Thursday’s TV Highlights: ‘Running Wild With Bear Grylls’ on NBC

SERIES

The Big Bang Theory After dating for more than five years, Amy and Sheldon (Mayim Bialik, Jim Parsons) spend the night together for the first time in this very special episode. 8 p.m. CBS

Inside the Actors Studio Steve Carell (“The Big Short”) sits down with host Jame Lipton to discuss his life and career. 8 p.m. Bravo

Life in Pieces John’s (James Brolin) and his Air Force buddies perform their versions of classic Christmas carols in this new episode. 8:30 p.m. CBS

Mom Regina (Octavia Spencer) declares that she doesn’t believe she’s an alcoholic in this new episode. 9 p.m. CBS

Luther Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Idris Elba) is thrust back into the darker side of humanity in this one-of episode of the crime series. 9 p.m. BBC America

Elementary Morland (John Noble) is willing to help Sherlock and Watson (Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu) with a case in this new episode. John Shea and Reed Diamond guest star. 10 p.m. CBS

Running Wild With Bear Grylls In the Alaskan wilderness, President Obama and Bear Grylls observe evidence of climate change, sample wild salmon and enjoy tea made with water from melting glaciers. 10 p.m. NBC

Haven The science fiction series ends its run with two new episodes. 10 and 11 p.m. Syfy

SPECIALS

iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Some of today’s top music stars perform this annual event. Elvis Duran is the host. 8 p.m. KTLA

American Country Countdown’s Top 10 Stories of 2015 Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain and Florida Georgia Line are among the artists who discuss the past 12 months in this new special hosted by Darius Rucker. 8 p.m. Fox

Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2015 Included are Bradley Cooper, Misty Copeland, Tracy Morgan, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Amy Schumer. 9:30 p.m. ABC

Funniest Commercials of the Year 2015 This annual special counts down the top 10 TV ads. 10 p.m. Spike

TALK SHOWS

CBS This Morning Torry Holt. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Matthew Broderick; Annaleigh Ashford; Siri Pinter; James Patterson; 16 to ‘16; winner of “The Voice.” (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

Good Morning America A preview of “Barbara Walters’s “The 10 Most Fas-cinating People of 2015”; Luke Bracey and Ed-gar Ramirez. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Live With Kelly and Michael Kurt Russell (“The Hateful Eight”); Daya performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Barbara Walters; Mary-Louise Parker. (N) 10 a.m. KABC

The Meredith Vieira Show Andy Cohen. (N) 11 a.m. KNBC

The Doctors Dr. Lisa and Dr. Sears return; a marijuana club; a fast-food diet. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL

The Talk Mike Epps; Hayley Orrantia. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS

Rachael Ray Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry. (N) 1 p.m. KABC

The Dr. Oz Show Longevity; chef Aaron Sanchez. (N) 2 p.m. KTTV

Dr. Phil A woman may be addicted to anti-anxiety meds. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS

The Real Babyface. (N) 3 p.m. KTTV

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Cast members of “Star Wars: the Force Awakens”; Dax Shepard. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC

To the Contrary With Bonnie Erbé Visas, Muslim women and terror. (N) 5:30 p.m. KOCE

Tavis Smiley Elizabeth Banks. (N) 11 p.m. KOCE

Charlie Rose (N) 11 p.m. KVCR; 11:30 p.m. KOCE

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Will Ferrell. (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central

Conan Director J.J. Abrams, John Boyega and other cast members of “Star Wars: the Force Awakens.” (N) 11 p.m. TBS

The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore Pusha T. (N) 11:30 p.m. Comedy Central

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Bruce Springsteen; Jeffrey Tambor; Chris Stapleton performs. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Michael Moore; U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power; Michael C. Hall; “Lazarus.” (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live Ryan Seacrest; chef Giada de Laurentiis; R. Kelly. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

The Late Late Show With James Corden Seth MacFarlane; Lily Tomlin. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Seth Meyers Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Ike Barinholtz, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and Paula Pell. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Last Call Luke Bracey; Zella Day performs; Torres. (N) 1:38 a.m. KNBC

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TV listings for the week of Dec. 13 - 19, 2015 in PDF format

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